ARC Review: ‘Beautiful Crazy’ by A. James
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from The Author Agency in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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Beautiful Crazy
by A. JamesSeries: Blossom Beach #1
Published by Self-Published on January 6, 2025
SubGenres: Contemporary Romance
Format: eArc
Pages: 390
Source: The Author Agency
Audience: 18+/Adult
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As a single mom with my hands and heart full, finding love is the last thing on my mind.
Then Everett Windward comes along.
My new neighbor is charming, handsome, and sexy—and before I know it, I have a new friend…with benefits.
Fun and filthy benefits.
There’s just one problem—He’s also my son’s teacher.
That alone should have me pumping the brakes… except it doesn’t. I’m drawn to him and to the way he makes me feel. Everett has a filthy side that has reignited something inside of me that I haven’t felt in years.
Something I thought I lost.
But there are rules…
My son can’t know.
No sleeping over.
And absolutely no feelings involved.
But as time goes on, it becomes impossible to ignore the butterflies in my stomach when I catch him looking at me, or when I watch him play ball with my son day after day.
Before I know it, he’s so intertwined in our lives, and I can no longer deny the desire to break the very rules that I put into place to begin with.
But it’s not just my feelings I have to consider.
I can see how quickly my son is becoming attached to him. See the way he yearns for that father figure in his life.
We have experienced enough hurt and loss to last a lifetime. Can I really open up our hearts, knowing the risk I’m taking?
Beautiful Crazy was the first book I read by A. James, and it definitely won’t be my last. This book features a wonderful blend of sweet and romantic elements, along with plenty of tension and spice between the two main characters, Everett and Gemma. This story features a trope I’ve been eager to read more about: the single-mother romance. A. James did a beautiful job crafting a happy ending for both characters, particularly for Gemma, who wasn’t even seeking love but found it in someone like Everett.
I loved both characters in this book and even adored Gemma’s son, Sutton, who occasionally stole the show, especially with his reaction at the end, which I won’t spoil for anyone. The MMC, Everett, is a wonderful guy starting over in a small town after leaving Seattle. He isn’t looking for love, but the moment he meets Gemma, he can’t seem to stay away from her and is eager to learn more about her. I especially loved how he connected with Sutton right from their first meeting. Seriously, Everett is the kind of MMC you’re going to want to add to your book boyfriend list after reading this book. Not only is he caring and sweet, but he’s also skilled in the bedroom. This man knows how to use his words and is all about taking care of Gemma. He has some kinks of his own and helps Gemma explore her own, which makes for some interesting reading. 😊
I admired Gemma for being a devoted mother to her son, Sutton, plus a full-time writer. After her husband passed away unexpectedly, she had to raise Sutton on her own, which made her hesitant to open her heart to someone new. However, she had a supportive and loving family that was there for her throughout this difficult time, and they encouraged her to consider a relationship with Everett when they realized how they were together. I appreciated how Gemma eventually gave in to temptation and started a friends-with-benefits arrangement with Everett. As we often see in these situations, feelings can develop, and that was exactly the case with Gemma and Everett, as they both fell in love. (I was there for the moment that they knew they were in love with one another.)
I loved how both characters found one another, but Everett also found a family that was the complete opposite of his own, which is touched on in the book. Everett found a family that didn’t judge him, and he fell in love with Gemma and her son, Sutton. Likewise, Gemma experienced love a second time with someone who genuinely cared for her and Sutton, resulting in a perfect happy ending for both characters.
Overall, Beautiful Crazy is a beautifully written story, and I give it four stars. I can’t wait for the next book in the series! I definitely need to check out A. James’ other works written under her pen name, Ashley James, which are MM romances.
Single/Dual POV: Dual POV.
Standalone or Part of Series: It’s an interconnected standalone in the Blossom Beach Series.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy sweet and romantic single mother romance stories with plenty of tension and spice.
What to Expect:
✔Small Town Romance
✔Single Mother Romance
✔Neighbors to Lovers
✔Friends with Benefits
✔He Falls First
✔Public Play
✔Breeding Kink
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